There’s buzz worldwide about women.
From the Davos Economic Summit to Warren Buffett, it seems everyone is talking with optimism about the future of our economies – because of women. In the U.S., there’s already buzz about the potential for electing the first female U.S. President in 2016.
There’s equal buzz, however, about we women holding ourselves back or holding one another back.
In a recent Business Matters magazine post (UK’s leading business magazine), Therese Kinal, a Norwegian born and raised business woman writes, “For every woman fighting for gender equality, there is another one doing us a disservice.” Kinal goes on to detail what she calls the 9 Sins of Gender Equality.
We Are Our Own Worst Enemies
Kinal writes: “Many women act bitchy, catty, jealous and are sometimes outright bullies toward other women. As women today the pressure is on. We have to be beautiful, successful, intelligent, good wives, good mothers … the list goes on.
We might have wanted female liberation, but I don’t think we really thought this one through. The pressure has never been more intense (and often self -inflicted!) and yet here we are tearing each other down, putting sticks in … [Read more...]

A WISH: EVERY CHILD EMOTIONALLY SECURE
It was hard times growing up in the ‘dirty 30s’ in America but I always had family around, I was never hungry. I had all my emotional needs met. We were secure. Not financially, but emotionally secure. Yes, every girl, every child – that is what I wish for them – to have the security that I had. *Elaine, NE
#2 THEME: EDUCATION, PROFESSION & PASSION
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2012 Global Gender Gap report, U.S. Women are No. 1 in the world for educational attainment. Not surprisingly, Mainstreet Women are proud of their hard-earned education that enables them to pursue passions and professions. (The U.S. currently ranks 22nd overall. We're No. 55 in political empowerment, No. 33 in health and survival rates, and No. 8 in economic participation and opportunity.)
For girls, I want them to know that education has made all the difference for me. Not my titles, I don’t use them though others do, but the fact that I did it. I have confidence that I can learn what I need to learn to succeed. Kathy, ID
My education is what I’m most proud of. Despite not having a family who could do it for me, I had the … [Read more...]

Mainstreet Women Question #1: Tell me a little about where you live, your main street or what you consider main street to be. (Post 2 of 3)
“My Main Street, where I thrive, is the village. I want Main Street to be a place where my daughter grows up knowing the mail person, the shop owners; a place where she is friends with the oldest neighbor and the youngest. That’s the Main Street I want and I’m tired of being so divided – I want us to reach out neighbor to neighbor.” (Stefani, MO)
I don’t know about you but I’ve been actively mindset shifting since Mainstreet Women shared their magic wand call for authentic dialogue, less divisiveness, and greater tolerance. Like Cindy in NJ said, “I’m an everyday Mainstreet Woman. I work, I pay my bills, I pay my taxes.” And, Mainstreet Women’s immense power (80-90% of consumer influence in our nation, 53% share of voters) opened my eyes to the fact that we can lead the change we want to see – not just in ourselves – in our nation.
While our elected officials in DC made the rounds of Sunday pundit shows this morning to make sure we know it’s the other guy’s fault, I heard the fiscal cliff ticking time bomb on Main Street. What if … [Read more...]

Good morning! Yesterday was my last day of interviews for Mainstreet Women: My heartfelt THANK YOU to you, 52 women from 35 states & DC who shared what you really care about, how bold you’ve been, and what you wish for girls and the country. I am in awe of ALL of you and feel so honored that you shared your time, stories, struggles and aspirational magic wand actions with me.
I have never felt so hopeful about our country – not because of the elections -- because of us! We have much more in common than our differences, care deeply about children and our nation’s future, and have amazing stories of speaking out, standing up, and being unbelievably courageous. You inspired me and I know you will be the inspiration for so many women and men, girls and boys.
I’m dying to connect you with one another. I’ve created a Facebook page for us and posted the 10 Mainstreet Women Questions that are at the heart of the book. You can “like” the page US Mainstreet Women at https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Mainstreet-Women/299610273488399. I promise I’ll share interview “findings” with you as soon as I’m able. Right now, share a picture of your Mainstreet and tell us what you love about … [Read more...]

The author of Love-Based Leadership, Dr. Maria Church’s days hold little resemblance to her past life as a corporate marketing executive. These days, she meditates every morning, a practice unimaginable before her career change.
With her business partners, Maria launched what she calls “a leadership revolution”, grounded upon what could be termed a 4-letter/dirty word in the business world: L-O-V-E.
Admittedly, love sounds out of place in our competitive contemporary world. Church says that her approach offers a clear way to, “warm up the workplace. We ensure that leaders and their organizations begin to bring their souls to work so that they can feel happier, healthier and more effective.”
One thing is certain, her love-based leadership “revolution” is about much more than business – it represents Maria’s radical career and life change.
Making it like Mad Men
She remembers thinking not long ago, “I’ve arrived. I’ve got a fat checkbook and a beautiful home. I’m the major breadwinner. I’m the only woman at the table with the men. This is what success looks like – I’ve made it.”
So why change careers?
Church laughs. “I found myself mirroring the success images … [Read more...]

Yoda I was.
It was July at the county fair in the early 80s, and I was about 11. The thick, rubber Yoda mask and long woven robe were almost unbearable in the mid-summer heat, but I had a job to do. Who better than the omniscient Yoda to attract fairgoers to the American Cancer Society booth to learn about breast cancer screenings and early detection? There, the ACS volunteers, and … [Read More...]

Last week I heard myself give a textbook answer to the question, “What’s the difference between leaders and managers?” I won’t bore you by sharing what I responded because even if you don’t read as many articles and books on leadership as I do, you’d intuitively sense that there must be more to truly great leaders.
After my acceptable answer popped toad-like from my lips, I … [Read More...]

“Oh @*#+!” I berate myself just prior to taking a trip recently. Why did I put off some work I wanted to get done before leaving? Why did I wait until the last minute to buy gifts I wanted to take with me?
“Oh joy! You procrastinated,” proclaims my meanie-in-mind, “I get to run wild right now!”
My meanie-in-mind uses words like "always" and "never." It lies glibly and … [Read More...]

What happens when we put kindness at the center of our leadership? There's plenty of hard evidence that kind leaders get better results.
Emma Seppala, Ph.D, a Research Scientist at Stanford University and the Associate Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University, details several studies in Being a Kind Boss Pays Off:
A … [Read More...]